The original version of the bill permitted marijuana cultivation by patients, but concerns over law enforcement led to the provision's removal.

In signing the bill, Hassan said: "Allowing doctors to provide relief to patients through the use of appropriately regulated and dispensed medical marijuana is the compassionate and right policy for the State of New Hampshire..."

The treatment centers are expected to open in 2015.

Proponents of medical marijuana argue that it can be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of terminal illness and chronic diseases. The American College of Physicians, American Nurses Association, and American Public Health Association are some of the major health organizations to support the medicinal value of marijuana.

Opponents argue that marijuana is an addictive, non-FDA approved drug that adversely affects the lungs, immune system, and brain.

According to 2013 WMUR Granite State poll, 79% of New Hampshire residents support a medicinal marijuana law (57% strongly and 22% somewhat).

Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have enacted medicinal marijuana laws.

2015 Legislation

Rep. Virginia O'Brien Irwin (D-Newport) is the primary sponsor of HB 117, a 2015 bill that would allow physician assistants to prescribe medicinal marijuana. This bill was killed in the House.

Rep. Ted Wright (R-Moultonborough) is the primary sponsor of HB 164, a 2015 bill that requires the state to begin processing applications for medical marijuana ID cards no later than July 23, 2015. This bill was killed in the House.

Rep. Joseph Lachance (R-Manchester) is the primary sponsor of HB 165, a 2015 bill which broadens the medical conditions that qualify for a medicinal marijuana prescription to include many general symptoms. This bill was killed in the House.

Rep. Stephen Schmidt is the primary sponsor of HB 476, a 2015 bill that adds epilepsy, lupus, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease to the list of medical conditions qualifying for medicinal marijuana. This bill has passed the House and Senate and was signed by the Governor.

Rep. Ted Wright is the primary sponsor of HB 593, a 2015 bill that permits qualifying patients and registered caregivers to grow medicinal marijuana at home. This bill passed the House and is being reviewed by the Senate's Health and Human Services Committee.

Sen. John Reagan is the primary sponsor of SB 22, a 2015 bill that allows satellite marijuana dispensaries, and makes other small changes to the law governing medicinal marijuana. This bill passed the Senate and House and was signed by the Governor. Sen. Reagan is also the primary sponsor of SB 54, which requires a medicinal marijuana treatment centers to give payment in lieu of taxes to a municipality if the center's nonprofit status grants a property tax exemption. This bill passed the Senate and House and was signed by the Governor. Lastly, Sen. Reagan is sponsoring SB 240, which protects certified public accountants from prosecution or penalty for providing services to medical marijuana treatment centers and patients. SB 240 passed the Senate and was tabled in the House.

2014 Legislation

Legislators proposed five 2014 bills related to medicinal marijuana.

Sen. John Reagan (R-Deerfield) was the prime sponsor of SB 234, a 2014 bill that creates deadlines for the criminal background check for caregivers, and repeals the requirement that marijuana cultivation locations be confidential. That bill passed the House and Senate and was signed by Governor Hassan.

Rep. Donald Wright sponsored HB 1622, a 2014 bill that allows home-growing of medical marijuana. The House passed that bill, but HB 1622 was sent to interim study in the Senate, which effectively killed the bill.

The House and Senate both passed Wright's HB 1296, which adds a member of the New Hampshire Association of Police Chiefs to the advisory council overseeing the implementation of the medical marijuana law. It was signed into law by Governor Hassan.

Wright also sponsored HB 1616, which would add epilepsy, lupus, and Parkinson’s disease to the list of conditions qualifying for medicinal marijuana; HB 1616 would also require medical marijuana to be in a locked container when in a car. The House sent HB 1616 to interim study, effectively killing the bill.

Previous Legislation

Former Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat like Hassan, vetoed a medical marijuana bill (SB 409) in 2012. In his veto message, Gov. Lynch expressed concern with the legislation's inability to control marijuana cultivation sites. The Senate fell three votes shy of a veto override.

What do you think about using marijuana for medical reasons? Whatever your thoughts are, we urge you to make your voice heard. See the "Learn More/Take Action" section on this page for more information.

Issue Status

Medical marijuana will become available in New Hampshire in 2015.

Several legislators are sponsoring 2015 bills that would broaden access to medicinal marijuana. See the bottom of the Issue Summary for more details.